Mutagen

It was a cloudy early afternoon, and the cold winter breeze blew all over Japan.

However, such cold air was absent around the crater left in Kachidoki as armed soldiers and select people investigated the area.

"It\'s really hot around here. It feels like summer."

Keiko voiced out as she removed the scarf around her neck.

"Stop complaining and look around silently," Ren sighed. "Maybe we can at least find some scrap to collect."

"Is there even anything to find here?" Keiko replied. "Everything got flattened to the ground."

Ren led her group from the Black Lotus to investigate the aftermath in Kachidoki. It was originally the territory of the Black Lotus Group. Their group leading the investigation in Kachidoki had concrete justification.

And to say. The members of the Black Lotus were completely dismayed by the current appearance of the previously bustling Kachidoki.

Gar\'Vlam\'s explosion razed the ground and bathed everything in flames. Then the Magical Storm pulverized everything else still standing.

Now, Kachidoki, no, every territory within the Reclaimed City and the surrounding areas in the mainland became a vast wasteland devoid of anything. If not for the barrier the Priestess created, even Ariake and the remaining parts of Shinonome would have suffered the same fate.

Ren carefully approached the edge of the crater. Water from the Tokyo Bay had already filled the crater. However, the water inside boiled in high temperatures, a testament to Gar\'Vlam\'s magical energy still lingering within the crater.

While Ren\'s eyes panned across the crater and in the northern direction, she gave out another sigh of dismay.

The location Ren was looking at was where the base of the Black Lotus stood before. Now, it was nothing but a sunken part of the crater.

Ren raised her head, looking at the cloudy winter sky.

"First, zombies. Then, a catastrophe changed Earth, bringing down robotic invaders from space. Hostile Demons also continued to cause problems. And now, Deities and Gods. This world is not giving us humans any leeway to survive peacefully."

Ren said in a tone filled with uncertainty.

In her entire life, Ren had seen many things. Being a member of the Mitsui Clan, a warrior clan that produced both Samurais and Ninjas, she knew many things that normal people thought to be things of fiction and fantasy. Yet, true Deities and Gods still shook her beliefs as a human.

"We are fortunate this time around."

Tadashi spoke as his lady stared into the sky in contemplation.

"Yes, we truly are."

Ren agreed with her subordinate\'s statement.

Considering the things that happened in the past few weeks, the Black Lotus sure was blessed by lady luck. What could have happened if their group were not the ones who met Mark\'s group in the ruins of Tokyo? What if it were the other territorial groups instead?

If Black Lotus did not find them first, then there would be no Black Lotus now. The machinations of the Mitsui Clan had almost killed them, and the ones that saved the Black Lotus were Mark\'s group. Mark even helped them grow stronger with various means to return the kindness Ren\'s group gave to Mark and his members.

Ren looked at her hand. It began transforming, showing a sturdy carapace that even bullets could not penetrate. Mark did not tell her anything as he gave her this ability, but she knew. It was the same ability as the [Named Infected] in Oshiage.

It meant that Mark did not only have the ability to turn people into [Ability Holders] but also transfer the abilities of powerful [Infected] into other humans. This ability was clearly the reason why Mark\'s group had many powerful people. It was because they did not have to gamble with their lives in order to become [Ability Holders]. Furthermore, he could also give [Ability Holders] more abilities, which should be impossible.

With Mark, it was possible. Both Ren and Keiko were good examples of this. The two were already powerful [Ability Holders]. Yet, the two of them were given new abilities by Mark.

And thinking about these things, Ren realized.

"We are the ones who had a debt to pay, aren\'t we?"

Ren said with a bitter smile and received no response but the same kind of smile from those around her.

It was true, after all.

While the Black Lotus group was having such a discussion, the center of their conversation unexpectedly appeared.

Swooping down to the ground from the sky, Mark landed near the crater with a creepy-looking child following beside him.

Well, the child\'s appearance was not that scary. After all, there were all kinds of [Ability Holders] that had grown things that a regular human body did not have. And for this child, it was only an extra number of eyes. Yet, everyone felt scared and suffocated whenever their eyes fell on the child. Furthermore, the child could fly without wings and follow Mark. She was definitely no mere child.

"What are you doing here? Are you good to move around already? I heard you overexerted yourself."

Ren asked Mark. She had seen most of the things that happened during the battle, although she also fell unconscious before it all ended. They all knew that Mark was their savior and that his body took quite a toll to win that battle.

In fact, many people wanted to pay Mark a visit and convey their gratitude for saving the remaining people of the Reclaimed City. However, they all stopped the notion to do so when they learned he was recuperating.

"I\'m fine. Well, mostly," Mark answered. "My whole body feels sore, and my muscles are aching badly. But I don\'t feel the need to rest somehow. That\'s why I went out a bit for a walk."

Mark did not feel the need to rest. It was most likely because his entire body was brimming with power it was not used to. In fact, it might also be the actual reason his body feels sore and aching. It was because his body might be turning into something that could handle that new power.

The pain in his body Mark was currently feeling was quite similar to when he consumed a crystal with a stored mutation.

"I see."

Ren nodded. She had gone through rigorous training even when she was a child. That kind of training also made her feel sore a lot of times, but it also made her move around more despite the pain.

"But why here?" Keiko chimed in with a shrug. "There\'s nothing to see here any more."

"Yeah, the only thing left is that crater."

Mark replied as his eyes looked in a certain direction. His eyes then showed a genuine hint of frustration that even Ren and the others noticed.

"Is something wrong?"

Ren could not help but ask, although she was not really expecting an answer.

However, it seemed Mark really was frustrated that he did not care and let out his thoughts.

"My base," Mark replied with a slightly angry tone. "I finally managed to buy my own house. Now, not even the lot remained."

Mark was poor. He might have a house to stay, but he was barely scraping by on everything else. It was not surprising that even if he did not show it, being able to buy his own property was a great accomplishment for him.

But, unfortunately, the house he bought was destroyed. Not even the empty lot remained as it became part of the crater.

"It really makes me want to capture that bastard\'s soul and tear it to pieces eternally."

Mark mumbled.

"Did you say something?"

Ren asked, not hearing his mumbles clearly.

"Nothing."

Mark shook his head.

"Sir," Tadashi spoke. "If you really want another property, you can ask the government. You should also be able to ask them to build a building of your choice. I doubt they will deny you the privilege. No, they might even be eager to give you the favor."

Tadashi\'s suggestion was right. Not only would it lessen their debt of gratitude to Marka and his group, but also strengthen their ties to the city. If there was something that the Reclaimed City needed the most right now, it was powerful people like Mark.

"I know that," Mark replied. "But the firsts still weigh heavier."

Understanding what Mark was saying, everyone could only sigh in their hearts.

"Anyway, I have another reason to come here."

Mark said, taking everyone\'s attention.

"And that is?"

Ren asked.

"There," Mark pointed at the bottom of the water-filled crater. "I doubt the residual energy in the surroundings can make the crater boil. There should be something inside."

Ren and the others were surprised. But then again, they were no experts in magical arts to realize the fact.

"I\'ll jump in."

Mark jumped into the crater, followed by Thirteenth, before anyone could react. They tried to watch Mark and the girl, but none of them could not stay too close for a long time due to the high temperature and the steam.

As for Mark, he soared into the steam-filled crater with Thirteenth. Thirteenth was unaffected by the temperature. On the other hand, Mark had a layer of [Miasma] on his body to offset the heat.

The two reached the center of the crater. The temperature was several times hotter than the edge. It was clear that there was really something underwater.

Thus, after creating a barrier of wind around him using the [Wind Manipulation Mental Crystal], Mark flew into the water at the center of the crater.

Suddenly, Mark felt a tug on his right wrist. One might think Thirteenth was trying to get his attention, but she was following to his left. As Mark looked at his wrist, he saw the [Fire Manipulation Mental Crystal] popping out of the [PsyCrystal]. It then began flying in a specific direction.

Mark had seen this behavior from the crystals before. It was also how he found the Mermaid, Mirielle. The [Fire Manipulation Mental Crystal] was definitely getting attracted to something of the same origin.

That origin should be Gar\'Vlam\'s power.

Mark followed the crystal to the bottom of the crater, which was a few dozen meters deep underwater. And as they got closer, Mark began to see something glowing in the distance.

Flying closer, Mark realized what it was. It was not the first time he had seen one of these.

It was the core of a [Caorthannach]. It was the same kind of Demonic Creature who fought with Diwata Danaya\'s predecessor in the Eastern Mountains of Quezon.

Seeing the glowing core before his eyes, Mark realized. It was Gar\'Vlam\'s core, and the Flame Demon Deity was originally a [Caorthannach].

The [Flame Manipulation Mental Crystal] hovered above the core and began recharging itself with the magical energy the core emanated. Mark did not realize that this was possible. It seemed that the [Mental Crystals] could actually recharge themselves faster using magical energy from the same source.

Mark ordered the [Flame Manipulation Mental Crystal] to fly back into its storage. He then created a bubble of [Miasma] to encase the core and confine its energy.

With this, Mark managed to snag another extremely valuable treasure. It could also be considered to be Gar\'Vlam\'s payment for all the problems he caused Mark.

But, well, it was not enough of a payment. Mark definitely valued his first-bought house more than this carcass of a dead bastard.

And now, Mark had two cores. At the least, he could use Gar\'Vlam\'s core to recharge the crystal, but he had yet to find actual use for these cores aside from being a heater.

With the core retrieved, the temperature of the crater began to lower. It might still take a while, but the water should reach normal temperatures after some time.

Mark easily got one of the things he came outside for. After retrieving the core, Mark bid his farewell to the members of the Black Lotus before flying away.

Under the cloudy sky, Mark flew north and out of the zone affected by yesterday\'s battle.

Mark wanted to test something else.

Since Mark\'s ring could not store the cores for some reason, he put it down somewhere safe.

Mark then took something out of his ring while Thirteenth watched him. It was a sword with a Western-style blade and an Eastern-style hilt and ornaments, currently covered with rather ominous aura.

It was the first item Mark acquired in the battle against the Yamata-no-Orochi.

The legendary sword, [Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi]. It was the sword that Susanoo found in one of the tails of the Yamata-no-Orochi. It was also the same sword that became the catalyst for the birth of its incarnation.

With the incarnation of the [Yamata-no-Orochi] dead, the sword fell into Mark\'s hands.

And Marks\'s goal in going out to this desolate place was to make this sword submit.

It was because of a specific reason.

ROOOOOARRR!!!

Just like Ignis, a Demon Sword. The legendary sword of the past seemed to contain quite the aggressive soul of a beast inside.